Large water changes for large aquariums

[Itsadeepbluesea]

yah see thats the thing 25 cents per gallon sounds good but when you have to change in the order of 100 gallons thats 25 dollars per water change. That is why i'm trying to find a cheaper way. Not that, that is the deal breaker, just would be nice to find a less expensive way.

 

[nonstophoops]

No, it's not used water. It's freshly filtered from the sea.

I think almost all SW keepers mix their new water from the bucket mixes. Your comment made it sound like you were synthesizing your own SW mix for cheaper than it can be bought.

Oh, thought someone else said it was used. Not bad then, but the same costs of time and gas apply.

I know almost all do that. The guy I quoted said he was paying 7.99 for 5 gallons pre-made. I stated directly about buying Instant Ocean and didn't say anything about making it. So I am confused on how you are confused.

 

[FLESHY]

What are you trying to do with this system.

Give me specific filtration, stocking, tank size, sump size/components...everything.

Then we will try to work out some changes, and some water change rules to make this a little more stomachable.

 

[Zoodiver]

Then you have the issue of using old water. What are the water parameters of the water you are using? I would assume no nitrates in a public aquarium, but there are no guarantees there. There definitely will be some wastes in there that are not testable and you are adding them into your aquarium. Also, necessary nutrients(trace elements, calcium, etc.) may be low because it is used.

Totally, Totally not worth it in my opinion.

Most open system facilities just run ocean water through large sand filters for clarity and pulling out heavy sediment. No puiblic aquarium will have zero nitrate water. The biggest thing hobbiests focus on that public aquariums don't care about at all is that. Compared to what a home aquarist wants, ocean water is pure crap. Funny how that works, but it's true. Ocean water loaded with phosphate, nitrate, parasites, bacteria and all sorts of stuff many people wouldn't dream of introducing into their home tank.

Just to give you an idea: A sample of water we would draw in here could have phosphate over 10, a pH of 7.7-8.4, nitrate ranging from 10 -200 and a salinty anywhere from 29-37 depending on time of year.

 

[nonstophoops]

Most open system facilities just run ocean water through large sand filters for clarity and pulling out heavy sediment. No puiblic aquarium will have zero nitrate water. The biggest thing hobbiests focus on that public aquariums don't care about at all is that. Compared to what a home aquarist wants, ocean water is pure crap. Funny how that works, but it's true. Ocean water loaded with phosphate, nitrate, parasites, bacteria and all sorts of stuff many people wouldn't dream of introducing into their home tank.

Just to give you an idea: A sample of water we would draw in here could have phosphate over 10, a pH of 7.7-8.4, nitrate ranging from 10 -200 and a salinty anywhere from 29-37 depending on time of year.

Very interesting to hear this. I assume this is because it is from near shore that it is so variable and contaminated?

 

[Zoodiver]

Yeah, get a full moon tide and the amount of current really stirs up the shoreline water. Today is a GREAT example. This morning you couldn't see 10' into our big reef display. This afternoon, you can't tell there is water it's so clear. Turnover is about every 3.5 hours or so. Our disolved oxygen levels go from almost unable to support life at abour 3 parts to well about 10 parts on days like this. One of the reasons we run big air pumps on the systems.

 

[kzimmerman]

I read an orticle once about the chlorine trick. Obtain natural seawater. In order for this to be worth it, I would imagine that you would need a trailer with a big agricultural style tank on it. You will also need a pump. Directions are as follows:
drive to a secluded beach, put hose in water. Fill tank.
Go home, add pool chlorine, double the dose that you would dose a pool with.
Let soak for a day or so.
Declorinate, and your good to go.
Solids could be removed with a sand filter on the way into the tank, or something similar. I've run this by a wastewater treatment engineer, and his response is that the chlorine should oxidize off all organic components of the water. I do not know if it would have an effect on trace elements or not.
I beleive that the Instant ocean hatcheries used this method in a clownfish hatchery once. I think that is where the article came from.

 

[enwelz]

I have started doing using water from the seattle aquarium to GREAT success. The parameters are fine, the SG is a bit lower than ususal as it is from the pudget sound which gets quite a ton of run off, but it is easily adjustable if itsn't what you want. It isn't used water, they have a system that filters water pretty far out in the sound(the aquarium is built on a pier by the way). Its the same water they use for their salmon research and their reef aquariums. The system works quick enough that they can do massive waterchanges in the event of emergencies, and when there are no problems they sell the water to companies, and aquairum enthusiasts at 5 CENTS A GALLON! I got a key card theat you swipe at the loading dock to turn on the pumps. Grab hose fill rubbermaid(garden hose has good pressure, but I use the firehose to fill up 30gal rubbermaids in about 45 seconds.) Drive home, happy fish. I am so pleased with it. If i just need a few gallons real quick i'll get it at the pet store, but on a day off, I just go get about 100 gallons and then use it as I need it. It is filtered, and UV sterilized and considered scientific grade natural seawater. I HIGHLY recomend anyone near seattle who has a vehicle to transport a lot at once and has a big aquarium to look into it. You can go 24 hours a day which is good for me, I get up at 2am for work, so I drive down in no traffic at 3am on my day off and I can drain and fill my 140 gallon set up for 7 dollars. plus 13 bucks in gas and that is 14 cents a gallon.

Most open system facilities just run ocean water through large sand filters for clarity and pulling out heavy sediment. No puiblic aquarium will have zero nitrate water. The biggest thing hobbiests focus on that public aquariums don't care about at all is that. Compared to what a home aquarist wants, ocean water is pure crap. Funny how that works, but it's true. Ocean water loaded with phosphate, nitrate, parasites, bacteria and all sorts of stuff many people wouldn't dream of introducing into their home tank.

Just to give you an idea: A sample of water we would draw in here could have phosphate over 10, a pH of 7.7-8.4, nitrate ranging from 10 -200 and a salinty anywhere from 29-37 depending on time of year.

The water I get tests at 0 for nitrates and phosphates. Yes the SG and Ph varies but you adjust it just like mixed water. And there is a reason fish live for a very long time in the ocean when compared to an aquarium, its their natural habitat and the water isn't crap. Its what our pets were designed to live in in the first place. I think using natural sea water, that has been properly filtered and sterilized well enough to conduct research with, is going to be a benifit to my fish as it is closer to nature for them. I don't recomend getting water at the shore, and running it though a canister into your tank or anything

 

[Calihawk]

Cheapest way is to leave the fish in the Ocean

 

[Deano1956]

Cheapest way is to leave the fish in the Ocean

Tell me, why are you on a fish forum where you know people have FISH and you tell them to leave them in the ocean? Why are you even here? If you have corals I'm sure you are replenishing the ocean with the frags right?